It's Time to Get out of the Boat

I remember growing up and going to my grandparents home where they live on a lake. There were many times my cousins and I would take the boat out in the middle of the lake, drop anchor and go swimming. I was always the one who didn’t want to get in the water because I was afraid it was going to be too cold. I’m sure that there are many of you out there that can relate.

There were times that I never got in the water, there were times that I was thrown in the water and then there were times that I got the courage to finally get out of the boat and into the water. You see, it takes faith to jump into that water. I have to trust that it really isn’t cold which is what my cousins always said and sure enough it was freezing. However, I would not have known that if I didn’t get out of that boat.

I’m reminded of the story of Peter in Matthew 14:22-31 when the disciples were all on a boat and a storm came about. Off in the distance appeared Jesus. While he was walking towards the boat the disciples were in a panic for 2 reasons. One, the storm was getting stronger and two, Jesus appeared to them looking like a ghost.

We hear a lot of messages about Peter “being of little faith.” However, I believe the opposite is true. It says in Matthew 14:28 “"Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water." What we fail to recognize is that Peter was the only one to get out of the boat. I mean, he is the only person other than Jesus to actually walk on water. If he never requested that of Jesus, he would have never been able to do the miraculous.

My question that I pose to you today is what is keeping you from getting off of your boat? Is it fear? I heard this once “We need to learn to accept fear as the price of growth”. Is it insecurities, hurt? What is it? Once you determine what that is, you need to stand firm, be bold and press through because on the other side, greatness and breakthrough awaits you.

Hayden

Slushies, Freeze Pops, Burgers & Dogs, and Cannonballs

Nothing cools the heat of the summer like a dip in the pool or lake.  Nothing refreshes you on the inside better than an ice cold slushy or freeze pop.  And nothing satisfies your hunger after being out in the sun all day than a nice burger or hot dog on the grill! (Man, my mouth is watering as I type).

With summer in full swing, it is important to be intentional with what events you schedule in attempt to connect with students and make it easy for them to come to your youth service.

We are by no means experts, but I thought I would share a few things that we do over the summer to meet students on their level:

1. House Parties: This is exactly what it sounds like, a party at someone’s house.  Students love to hang out where the crowd is at in the summer, so why not create your own crowd. It works best to find a house that has a pool or is on a lake.  This is a great “non churchy” environment to invite unbelievers to that might not be down with Jesus yet, but will totally cannonball in your pool!  Advertise the party and make sure you provide some food and you’re in for a hit!  We usually charge $2-$3 per student to cover the food and supplies cost, but free always works the best if it is in your budget.

2. Slushies and Freeze Pops: Nothing makes a student happier than a freeze pop or slushy on a hot day.  Try renting a slushy machine from a local vendor or go to Sam’s Club and buy freeze pops in the bulk and give them out before and/or after service.  Students will love it!

3. Grill Meat When You Can: Students go crazy over hamburgers and hotdogs!  If you are able to, provide grilled food at your summer events or house parties.  Find a faithful volunteer or two who love to grill and turn them loose to be “lean, mean, grilling machines.” (Raising your own cattle or pigs might me cost effective too…just kidding…but seriously.)

These are not the only things you can do in the summer, but give one or two of them a try and watch students have a blast!

Eric

God-Fearing

Have you, like me, ever asked the question, “Why am I supposed to fear the Lord?” I mean, He is good, kind, loving, gentle, comforting, giver of good things, ect.. Why are we to fear Him? This just doesn’t make sense.

As I continue to grow in my personal walk with Him I have been getting more and more revelation on this concept. The Bible says in Psalm 25:14 “The Lord confides in those who fear Him: He makes His covenant known to them”. The word confide means to tell (something) in confidence, to give as a responsibility or put into another's care; entrust, to disclose private matters in confidence.

I don’t know about you, but growing up I always loved to be in the know about stuff that others didn’t know. It made me feel older, responsible, and mature enough to handle it. When I was in the know, it gave me ownership in whatever that piece of information was.

I find that the more I have fear or reverence for the Lord, the easier it is to hear His voice and follow His leading. I feel that I am entrusted with more from Him and I can tell you, there is something that feels so good when somebody can count on you or entrust you with something. My fear and reverence for the Lord gives me ownership in my relationship with Him. It helps me not take Him for granted and allow our relationship to become mundane or dry.

So today, I pose you this question: In your life right now, can you say that you have a fear or reverence for the Lord? Here is how you can know the answer. How is your spiritual life? How have you been in your battle with sin or addiction? Are you more on the victor side or the defeated side? How much have you been entrusted with lately?





Hayden

Summer Slowdown... No Way!

With Memorial Day in our rearview mirror, the A/C kicked on, the school year coming to an end, and the sound of the ice cream man driving down your street after dinner, one thing is certain…SUMMER IS HERE! I absolutely love summer and everything that comes with it: warm weather, smell of fresh cut grass, vacations, tons of daylight, laying in the sun, etc.  Our personal lives and schedules seem to ramp up during the summer because there is just so much to do.  I don’t know about you, but almost every weekend on my calendar this summer has something going on. 

On the ministry side of things, however, many people seem to think that summer is the time to slow down and scale back on your efforts of reaching people.  I often get asked the question: “So now that the school year is over are things going to slow down a bit this summer?”  I almost always get a big grin and nearly laugh out loud when I let them know that the exact opposite happens! 

In Student Ministries at VFC, and really church wide for that matter, things don’t slow down, but instead, ramp up!  This isn’t a bad thing; this is a good thing!  With students out of school and the weather nice, there is so much opportunity to connect and reach the youth in the summer.  For VOX Student Ministries, summer is by far our busiest season with a weeklong discipleship program called Next Level, a week long summer camp, and usually double the monthly events…all on top of programming a weekly service too! 

Some people may think that summer is the time to slow down and relax, and don’t get me wrong, I’m all about rest and refreshing, but if you are a youth pastor, youth volunteer, or a church trying to reach the youth, one of the biggest temptations you will face in the summer is that of laziness.  I like the words of wisdom in Proverbs 20:4 (NLT) “Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.”

If we are not strategic about reaching students over the summer and building spiritual momentum, then we can’t expect to have “food” at the harvest when the new school year starts in the fall.  Why not ramp things up in the summer when students’ schedules are freed up, there’s no homework to compete with, and students are looking for things to do.  Why not give your students positive alternatives that will cultivate healthy relationships and help grow their faith? 

So go for it…ask for God’s grace and creativity, ramp up the intentional events and have the best ministry summer yet!

Eric

The Box

Today’s challenge – get rid of the box.  What do I mean?  I am referring to the box that says to have a successful, thriving youth ministry you must do it this way or that way.  The box that produces the same ideas year after year because back in the 90’s it worked for some youth group.  The box that keeps us from stepping out and trying something completely radical because it’s never been done before. 

You might be clutching to the box because of a couple different reasons.  One, it could be fear of failure that could be keeping you in the box.  There may be an idea that continues to stir in your heart.  You keep telling yourself that idea was meant for your younger, more energetic, and daring self ten years ago, but really the Lord is giving you a revolutionary idea to do youth ministry for your specific church.  Second, maybe you are the person that feels completely overwhelmed with the current tasks at hand, and when you begin to think about giving a makeover to your “Year at a Glance” with new events, sermon series ideas, and conferences - that overwhelming sensation comes on.  Instead, you look at the events you did last year and give it a slightly different name or offer a minor variation so your students don’t have complete déjà vu.

I have good news for you!  God’s best it not for you to live in the box of youth ministry.  Those ideas that continue to stir in your heart, though they may seem completely unattainable to achieve, are from the Him!  And if He gives you an idea, He also gives you the grace to do it!  Lean on His wisdom as you step out into the unknown with your radical idea.  It is ultimately His idea – and He’s got your back.  And if exhaustion is keeping you in the box, I’ve got good news for you too!  His Word clearly states His grace is sufficient for you and the joy of the Lord is your strength!  Take hold of His grace during this season and ask the Holy Spirit for fresh, witty ideas.  The Creator is the ultimate creative One.


Ruth

What's That Smell?!

It is said that the human nose can smell over 100 million different smells…WOW that is a lot of smells!  These can be both pleasant smells or horrific smells, ranging from your favorite dish at a restaurant to someone getting a little too comfortable on a road trip after eating Taco Bell. Regardless of the smell, the truth of the matter is that they all send a message to the brain. 

While ministering to students and young adults, I have observed that they have amazing “sniffers.”  What I mean by that is this: students and young adults can smell a phony and a fake from a mile away.  This next generation is very good at picking up whether you are authentic or if you are just faking it. They are craving authentic friendships and relationships, authentic conversations, and authentic environments where people are just “real.”

If we desire to be effective in reaching the youth then we as pastors, volunteers, parents must be authentic.  If you struggle at all with being authentic, then listed below are 3 easy ways of how to give off the right “stench”:

1. Be Yourself – There is only one you. Please be you, otherwise the world will be void of something that belongs.  Don’t try to be someone you are not or put on a mask.  This next generation needs you, not some clone or copy of someone else.

2. Be Transparent – There is nothing more powerful than a leader who is not afraid to live their life wide open for others to see and observe. When we are transparent with the youth, it shows them we are just like them, and allows a connection and respect to form in which true discipleship can thrive.

3. Be Real – If you don’t know all the answers, it’s ok.  If you made a mistake, confess it and own up to it. If you don’t care for Dubstep or Skrillex music, then don’t try to fake like you like it. Just be real.

When we are ourselves, are transparent with others, and are just plain real, that is when the smell of authenticity resonates in the nostrils of this next generation.  From that foundation is where true relationships can be formed and real life change can happen!

Eric

A Revelant Message in a Change Culture

Doesn’t it seem that we live in a culture that changes quickly?  Take fashion for instance – look back at pictures of yourself from five years ago.  Are you wearing the same type of outfits now as you were in those pictures?  Are you looking at your hairdo wondering what you were thinking?  Or take music – bands that were popular a few years back – more than likely they’re not the same ones playing on the top 100 countdown today.

Change in our culture happens quickly.  And if we stay completely focused in our same track of doing ministry, never looking up to see if change is happening around us, we could easily find ourselves a few years outdated and not effectively communicating or reaching the youth of today in a relevant way.  Webster defines “change” as the following:  to make different in some particular; to make radically different; to give a different position, course, or direction to. 

In your own youth ministry, I would encourage you to embrace change.  Change can sometimes be the key to truly connecting with your students in a relevant way.  Now, please hear my heart – there can be a ditch on either side of this topic – refusing to change and still using CDs from your high school years as the opening song, or changing so much a student wouldn’t know the difference between a show on MTV and your youth service last weekend.  There needs to be a balance. 

The best way to see how to connect with your church’s youth today is to observe your very own students.  Are your students communicating through Facebook, Twitter, or texting?  Are your students into playing sports, writing music, creating their own videos, longboarding?  Tune into your students to see how you can bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them in a relevant way.  And don’t be discouraged if change seems to happen more quickly than you’d expect.  Remember – only a few short years ago, you were sporting that ever-fashionable hairdo.

Ruth